CE News 23 March 25

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So, last rehearsal was a bit disappointing in a few ways, but I express my thanks to everyone who was there as we did get into the building and then sang for an hour and a half. What was great is that the small group got to test their toes in the new part. As unfortunate as them forgetting to let us in, we still accomplished something. Thanks to Diane and all who helped her connect with someone to let us in.

What this did show is that we need to be very diligent about attending the rest of the rehearsals if we want to bring forward a great show. Please make every effort to attend the last 5 rehearsals (yep, you heard right) and the long rehearsal (plus dress rehearsal) to ensure we are working as a group. The magic happens when we have opportunity to rehearse together.

The attendance Gmail is not being used to its capacity so I encourage everyone to remember to email when they are aware they cannot attend. I am very appreciative of those that use it as it helps us keep track of everyone to ensure those absent have the info they need to succeed.

I have created (with Andre's help) a seating plan that I will share by email. Please locate your position to maximize the sound of the choir.

The board has been discussing what we should wear, and the consensus is blue jeans on the bottom, with a blue coloured shirt on top. The shirt should be solid colour, no pattern and can be T-shirt material or otherwise. Jeans should be blue, not black. They can be capri length or boot length. If anyone has a jean jacket to go overtop, that would be great. Footwear can be sneakers or boots, remembering that we are standing on stage for some time. Jeans are timeless so this fits with our soundtrack through time theme. If you don't have the above items in your closet, this might be a good time to check out the second hand stores.

Everyone should have received an email about proposed changes to the bylaws. This was a major undertaking by the board to have bylaws that more accurately fit our group. I encourage you to read them and compare to the current bylaws. If you have questions, please email to choralevolution@gmail.com so they can be addressed prior to the meeting as the board is stealing precious rehearsal time to have the vote.

The Choral Evolution Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on the Wednesday following our concerts, May 7th. It will be a part of the post-concert review/music return/party that we usually have. We encourage everyone to consider being part of the board and a call for nominations will happen within the next month or so. The board serves the choir by organising the details of the sessions from start to end and is all volunteer.

Next Wednesday will be a return to CLA for rehearsal. Same location, same time. Details of the address are on the members only area calendar. See you there!

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CE News 27 April 2025

By Sherry Walters • April 28, 2025

Woot! We are almost there! Just one rehearsal--yes, it is the dress rehearsal so please wear your costume so we can see how awesome you look and take pictures--on Tuesday at Sooke Community Hall. Sally will be sending out an email with details of when to be there. For those that haven't had dress rehearsal experience, it can be a long evening as we need to get the lights, sound and logistics accomplished so we are ready for Friday. Please check out Andre's blog for the running order and put your music in order; use the elastics to hold each piece in place by sliding the middle of the piece into a single elastic. You can also attach tab holders so you know the location of each piece. Andre has shared the dynamics for each piece and they should be marked on your music. Although we need to be watching Andre, please keep an eye on the dynamics so we know when to be quiet and when to let our voices soar. This is another new venue for us, so watch Andre as he will tell us if we are too soft or too loud. Besides, the audience really wants to see the expression on your faces, so don't hide behind your book! You are gorgeous and your expression sells the show. Reminder that our "after party" will be after the Sunday afternoon show. It will be a "potluck" of sorts as everyone is encouraged to bring appetizers and finger food. This will also be a BYOB/drinks. It will be a blast to end with a chance to relive some of the moments of the shows. I'm sure it will be a very successful run....make sure you are sharing about the shows so we can pack those seats. The room is large at the Hall, so lets fill it! You are doing an amazing job, and this will be a great show. Well done, everyone. Thank you Andre for leading us in a great group of songs....okay, even Texas has grown on me.... Sherry

CE News 20 April 25

By Sherry Walters • April 21, 2025

Hey everyone! We have only 1 rehearsal (at Centre Mountain Lellum school) , plus our dress rehearsal on Tuesday, 29 April at the Sooke Community Hall!!! Then it will be show time. Sally has shared the times we are expected for the dress rehearsal and for each show, and that will be sent by email with all the concert notes. We are so close to presenting our music to our audiences...did you listen to last week's rehearsal? Sounding good! Thanks Paul for sharing that. It is a very exciting crunch time, so work on your trouble spots and try to memorise your music; there are a couple of songs that go by so quickly that you can't read the music, like Paint it Black, Bohemian Rhapsody, Texas Hold 'Em, to name a few. I'd like to remind everyone that the audience would really like to see your face and the expressions that you have. In order to do that, you need to look up from your music and engage with the audience. It has a two-fold purpose as you can actually see Andre's direction when your face is up. Let's try to practice that for the next two rehearsals and see if Andre notices.... I'd like everyone to wear their concert attire on Wednesday so we can see what we will look like. Get those blue jeans on! Any solid colour blue top will work, and if you have a denim/denim-like jacket/shirt, throw that on top. Jewelry should be subtle so the focus is on you. Thank you to the riser helpers: John, Tony, Thibault, Keiran, and Dylyn and for Haley's dad's truck to move them about. We will need a team of people at the Sooke Community Hall to hang the black background and lights and create a bit of a set for us. This can't occur until Friday before we are ready to have our last sing-through. If you would like to help, please email Sherry at labtech1963@gmail.com. We are nothing without our volunteers so I would like to give a big shout out to everyone who has taken on a task, no matter how big or small. THANK YOU. We will be sharing our "thank yous" after the last show, so make sure you stick around. We also usually have a get together on the Friday night after the show and planning for that is in the works. So, pencil in Friday evening after the show. As a reminder, our AGM and get together will be held Wednesday, 7 May at the same time as rehearsal (7-9:15 pm), with the location to be announced. To that end, if you are interested in running for a position on the board, please submit your name and the position to choralevolution@gmail.com before Wednesday, 23 April (sorry, the time got away on me). We encourage everyone to be part of this amazing governance for Choral Evolution. If you have questions around any of the positions (President/Co-president, Treasure, Secretary, Directors at Large) please ask one of the current board.

Director Notes

Rehearsal Notes May 2nd 2025

By Andre Clouthier • May 1, 2025

Hello Choral Evolutioneers! Isn’t that Dress Rehearsal a Bitch! So many distractions and confusing new experiences. The big resonant venue, trouble hearing yourselves, the risers, those damn lights, the sound, musicians, all that standing and sore feet and singing tunes one after the other. So many questions to answer. Luckily, we answered loads of them, and we’ll answer the rest before the show on Friday night. If you can, do our warm up before you arrive so your pipes are ready to go. We’ll practice getting on and off the stage before the show so you’re comfortable with the process. We’ll line up in the Green room and make an orderly entrance. We’ll move the lights back some so they are less in your eyes and you’ll be lit more from the side We’ll start every tune before the show, so you get a feel for the room again. Between songs, while I’m reading notes, look at your scores, especially your 1 st couple of entrances, you have to sing every line in tempo. Focus on what you have to say, the emotional underpinning of the song. We’ll sing “By the Waters of Babylon” after “All the Diamonds” before “Texas Hold ‘Em” I will introduce you and the musicians after “Creep” and we’ll take our bows. I’ll let the audience know that our big finish will involve some movement so this is our curtain call. If you haven’t already done so, put your music down and out of the way at the start of “Aquarius”. The arm movements look great, keep up the energy. Start moving into the hall as soon as the band starts “Let the Sunshine In” Keep up the energy and the clapping till we finish. We’ll sing “Golden Slumbers” from our positions in the hall. When we finish the tune, the show is over, feel free to mix with the audience. Don’t forget to recover your music and return your booklight before you leave. See you Friday ready to go at 6 pm. André ♪

Rehearsal Notes April 29th 2025

By Andre Clouthier • April 24, 2025

Hello Choral Evolutioneers! As promised here is the order of our May Show “Soundtrack of our Lives” Memories Eternal Flame Thinking Out Loud All The Diamonds Texas Hold ‘Em Vincent Bohemian Rhapsody Intermission Big Yellow Taxi Paint It Black Wicked Game You Learn Creep Hair Golden Slumbers We will also sing “By the Waters of Babylon” in the 1 st half and encourage the audience to join in. Tough rehearsal last night in yet another new venue. We’ll be pros at working under new and difficult conditions, something that will come in handy on our concert weekend. Gabe and I will rehearse with Cheryl Dennett, our percussionist, this weekend and work out musical support so things go smoothly at the dress. I will see you all Tuesday April 29th evening. Keep your eyes peeled for an email with details about when and where to arrive for the rehearsal and shows. Keep running through your music and double checking your notes, practice every day and keep those pipes lubricated. André ♪